Counter service at OKW ?

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Trying to work out what we can afford next year and wondering if we should save some money and have a studio instead of a 1 bed. Ive heard the rooms are bigger at OWK so wondered about trying there even though we loved SSR this year.

Just worried about the counter service options, we had some nice sandwiches and flatbreads this year, what is there at OKW ?

The queue for breakfast was massive this year so we tended to just get a cinamon roll and a coffee would we be able to get anything like that ?

 

[Twilight Terror]

Personally, I find the studio rooms at OKW smaller. The 1BV however, are huge! The studio rooms are on corners, and not rectangular, so while they might have more space footage-wise on paper, it doesn't always feel like that.

In regards to the counter service, it's not the best at all. The CS is outdoors, with no indoor seating, and is one the big things that puts us off going back to OKW. They serve the usual chicken breast/nuggets, hot dogs etc, but with no where to sit out of the afternoon sun or pouring rain, it's not the best place. There are certainly better hotels, selection-wise, when it comes to CSs.

 

[jen_uk]

OKW is very weak when it comes to food, the only snack place is by the pool and it sells fries, chicken nuggets etc. There isn't a food court like at other hotels and it could really do with one.

 

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Hmmm thanks back to the drawing board then !

Ive also remembered that I spoke to a lady at epcot who said her studio at OKW was shabby and the ice box in the fridge wouldn freeze her bottles of water so it might be too big a compromise

Thanks

 

[crabbie1]

I thought the rooms at OKW were lovley and went in 2008. Larger than the mods but obviosly not as big as a one bedroom but half the price so cannot expect it. Food court I would say that POR is prob one of the best but also liked CBR. Okw food options are not very good and I found the resturant Olivias overpriced yet was always quite busy. Staying at SSR this time but will be eating at DTD for bfast most days.Will check out the food options at SSR but dont suppose they are much different to OKW. For you DS there are lots of things that you can do as little suprises. make sure you grab his birthday pin form guest relations and tell all the resturanrs you book that its his birthday. You can also arrange to have a cake done have agift basket delivered to the room. The characters tend to make a fuss of kids when they know its there birthday. Im not sure on the starwars events at disney but loads of people do. Hope this helps a little

 

[disneemama]

Just stayed at OKW in a studio. Our studio was not one of the renovated ones but it was bigger than I expected, but not as nice as SSR.(SSR cs was good) The counter service was not good at all at OKW. We had to go out to eat most of the time. CS is a basic outdoor hot dog stand. We really liked OKW and would stay again, just would be more prepared to eat out. Olivia's was just OK, and a little over priced. Funny someone posted about the frig freezing the water, well that happened with everything we put in frig, couldn't seem to adjust it. No real big deal just put them outside for a few minutes to defrost.

 

[wayneg]

If you are comparing studio sizes then OKW are bigger than SSR but quite a bit smaller than the 1BR at SSR.

OKW Studio 390 square feet
SSR Studio 355 square feet

OKW 1BR Villa 942 square feet
SSR 1BR Villa 714 square feet

Can't really help with CS at OKW, we have not been we like Mara at AKL, the 2 food courts at POR/POFQ & Wulfgang Pucks DTD(if not in a park) so no reason to goto OKW CS for us.

Don't know about freezing bottles but Ice cubes it made within a few hours no problem, 1st night freezing things in the fridge til I altered the temp.
Even though we were not in a refurb room it was certainly better standard than Royal Pacific room we had.
If we stay onsite again next year I will not hesitate booking OKW but I haven't stayed at SSR to compare, didn't like the look of it as much when we had a look around.

 

[luke]

CS is better at SSR, more choice, indoor seating etc, but we only ate there once after getting home late on a day when we'd used TS credits for lunch.
That said, I had a standard chicken nugget meal at the OKW DISmeet which was comparable to most counter service fayre around WDW.

I know what Wayne Means about not 'liking the look' of SSR, but we loved it and our location with a view over DTD from our balcony.

That said tho, I think if we went back and stayed onsite in the near future, it would only be at OKW/SSR with the room discounts and free dining, and having loved the feel of OKW when we were there (that lighthouse is so fun!!) I think we'd opt for there for a change, and no doubt the refurbishments would be finished by our next trip

 

[dixonsontour]

I think the okw refurb is due to finish next spring so all rooms should be renovated by then.

We rarely used the foodcourt at all star movies preferring to eat at the parks or DTD so don't think we'll miss the lack of dining options at okw.

For breakfast we'll visit walmart and get some bagels/cereal etc.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Although it is outdoor, we liked the OKW food court. They had the usual items and you could get ice-cream products for dessert. The outdoor tables are very well shaded. I also liked that they gave you a buzzer to come back and collect your food rather than waiting. But I haven't stayed at SSR so can't compare.

We found the studio to be more than roomy enough for the three of us and adored the whole resort.

 

[luke]

They do the same with the buzzer at SSR

 

[STOCKYJIM]

stayed at OKW and agree that the onsite CS was just OK - only ate there when we had to but had no complaints- Never tried Olivias but were told they were good.

for CS we always took the trip to DTD where the options were great - Especially Wolfgang Pucks CS which was amazing.

We looked round a Studio as we had a 1br and tbh im saving like crazy to ensure we can have a 1br for next trip!!

I guess the studio at SSR with 1 bed and sofa bed would give you a nicer experience than the 2 x queen bed option at OKW

 

[2Tiggies]

Ive also remembered that I spoke to a lady at epcot who said her studio at OKW was shabby and the ice box in the fridge wouldn freeze her bottles of water so it might be too big a compromise

Thanks

I just want to mention that there are the odd complaints about an icebox freezing things, dripping water from fridges, shabby rooms ..... and it has nothing to do with OKW. You will see the odd complaint about this from pretty much any resort. A quick phone call or stop at guest services and this can be easily remedied. I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor - it can happen anywhere. It is not the norm, but it does happen occasionally at all the resorts. As for the room, if you are not happy, ask them to move you.

That said, you are obviously considering other factors as well, but I just wanted to point out that this may not be a strong enough reason on its own to sway you away from a resort that you think looks nice. You will make the right choice to suit you though.

 

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Thanks, I know everyone is different we had read bad reviews about nearly all the restaurants we went to this year but we enjoyed them all !

Think I need to woin the lottery then we can have exactly the holiday we want next year

 

[marcus.ka]

It is good to learn so much about the CS at OKW. We will stay there during our next trip and the not-so-good CS options are no big deal for us. But what about the refill stations for your mugs? Are there enough throughout the resort?

 

[wayneg]

There is just the 1 refill station outside Goods Food To Go, closes about 11pm. You can also get it filled behind the counter at Turtle Shack Snack Bar but limited hours.

 

[marcus.ka]

11pm... hmm

Am I wrong or is the refill station open longer at the POR (where we stayed last year)?

I think I remember that we refilled our Mugs after a long MK day while the CS at POR was still open?

So when it comes to CS and refill the OWK is not the best choice.

 

[wayneg]

This says open until 10pm, I think it was nearer 11pm last month but wasn't watching the clock.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=304

POR open til midnight
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=297

Its not something we bother about, I prefer bottled Pepsi Max from the supermarket, $1 for 2L (when on offer)

 

[marcus.ka]

Thank you for the helpfull link.

 

[luke]

The OKW refill station shut well before 11 on the night of the DISmeet there.
We left at about 11 and it had shut a fair bit earlier